Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-08-31
DEDICATED.

Two Eloquent Sermons at the First
Presbyterian Church by the
! Rev. DR.. Mcmillan.
| Yesterday was memorable Sabbath in
| Great Falls. The long expected dedica-
ton of the First Presbyterian church took
| place under the most favorable auspices.
AS the hour for divine service approached
the church and its vicinity presented
! busy scene. The solemn event had awak-
ened deep religious interest in the entire
city and neighborhood. ALI the great
creeds were represented in the groups Of
| people who wended their way to the
| church, some coming from homesteads in
! Sand Coulee ard more remote places, to,
testify their good will for the young con-
gregation and its worthy pastor. The
church with its spotless walls, the neat
pulpit with its punches of fragrant flow
| ers, the seats filled with people in holiday
attire, the choir and the understanding
piano, the horses hitched outside and the
| hum Of preparation which pervaded the
! assemblage, recalled to many pioneers
| scenes of their early life in western states
| where their fathers had displayed zeal
like that which they now eyinced in this
I! city. which is another landmark in the
| westward march of empire. The presence
of the Rev. D. J. Mcmillan, d. D., whose
fame as a divine, preacher and educator
had preceded him, added additional in
terest to the gathering and gave assurance
that the PRESBYTERIAN church at large was
deeply in sympathy with the Jealous eff
| forts of the young congregation which
was the first to raise temple for divine
worship at Great Falls.
After the anthem, "Enter Into His
Gates and some moments of silent pray
| er, the Rev. John Reid spoke briefly in
! grateful terms of j ohm S. Kennedy of New
York, Charles P. Noyes of St. Paul, the
| churches at Helena and Hoboken, n. j.
other goud friends who had aided the
church so generously and enabled it to
erect and adorn the fine edifice in which
they were now assembled. He referred
| to the affectionate interest which the late
Rev. Linnel had evinced in the establish
inert of the church from the motaent of
his visit here in June, 1886. Mr.. Reid
then offered feryent prayer and placing
on the pulpit the Bible, the Confession of
Faith-ssthe grandest concensus of divine
theology ever compiled, and the hymnal
he declared the house dedicated to the
worship of the Most High. The choir,
which was composed of Messrs. Junkin
and Brady, and Mesdames Clarke, Jun
kin and Sorrick, then sang with fine ef,
/ feet the appropriate anthem, Lord OF
Hosts" Rev DR.. Mcmillan then preach
ed, taking for his text the words of the
Psalmist. "For with Thee is the Fountain
of Life. In Thy Light shall we see Light. !"
He said that he deemed it rare privilege
to take part in this dedication for reasons
special and peculiar. 1t was always graf
flying to join in dedicating the first church
in new region, but it was especially
pleasing to him to witness this fruition Of
the labors of Brother Linnel, who had
succeeded himself at Miles City and had
at his desire taken charge of this mission
ary field. DR.. Mcmillan then proceeded
to deliver an eloquent sermon in which
he dwelt upon the inability of man to dis
cern the workings of divine providence
amid the varied incidents of life. He re-
ferred to the great problem, "How shall
man be just before God?' and showed how
all means had failed to satisfy that innate
longing of the human heart until Christ
came to provide the plan of redemption
The discourse was heard with the closest
, attention It was spoken without the aid
| of manuscript in clear voice accompan-
. | led by graceful gesture. After the ser
mon the choir sung, II Love Thy King
dom, Lord!'' DIR. Mcmillan then made
brief, remarks on removing the debt
) of the church, so that new members who
will flock here may join the congregation
without any misgiving as to the burden
they may have to share. After the col
!, lection, all present joined with fervor in
the hymn, "How Firm Foundation, Ye
Saints of the Lord
, Mr.. Reid then invited the congregation
to re-assemble in the evening, when he
hoped the building would be filed te
: over-aoWing.
ei THE EVENING SERVICE.
At the evening service the attendance
was large and the devotional exercises
were impressive. The singing, bass, ten
or, alto and soprano was excellent and the
r hymns included many which are favorites
Q | in the Presbyterian church the world over
' DIR. Mcmillan delivered another e1equen
sermon, In which he spoke of the mobility
/ and the weakness of man, demonstrating
5 the foelishness of those who doubt tht
: greatness of God because His majesty
: power and ways do not correspond witt
!. their own finite thoughts. Many admira
BILE smiles and illustrations, showing
abundant knowledge Of practical scienc,
were used with good effect by DR.. Nc
Milan Mr.. Reid announced that ther,
! would be communion service next Sab
E bath, and after singing the doxology will
oId-time junction all went out
g DR. Mcmillan, who has become gen
!, eral favorfte, visited to-day all the fall
and the Giant spring. A quiet picnic va
]. given in compliment to him near th,
) Rainbow falls. He is greatly pleased
with Great Falls and the scenery adiacen
thereto.
Il rs 80 Il